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Climate Change

Team Germany's surPLUShome (left) took first place in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2009 Solar Decathlon. The competition pitted solar-powered homes designed and constructed by 20 student teams (16 U.S. teams and four foreign teams) against one another in 10 competitions from Oct. 9-18, including architecture, market viability, engineering, lighting design, communications, comfort, hot water generation, appliances, home entertainment, and net metering. Second place went to the University of...

On Aug. 25, 2008, ASU welcomed students into the new home of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Located on the corner of Central Avenue, considered to be the city's main street, and near the Taylor Street Mall, an urban green belt, this gateway structure connects ASU's new urban campus with downtown Phoenix. It also establishes quality aesthetic, functional, and sustainable standards while meeting complex programming needs that include digital media laboratories...

Helps exterior block last longer, and installs in no time. Water can infiltrate any masonry, even with IWR. But now it's easy to expel. Simply drop a lightweight Blok-Flash* pan atop each cell on the first course of block. Forget about pea-gravel for the second course, too--our new, feather-light Mesh Inserts are quicker &amp easier. BLOK-FLASH' has NO or equal Circle no. 39 or http ecostructure.hotims.com

Energy efficiency is still a priority at the state level, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy. According to the council's 50-state scorecard on energy-efficiency policies, programs, and practices, the 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency at a state level are, in order California Massachusetts Connecticut Oregon New York Vermont Washington Minnesota Rhode Island and Maine. The scorecard examined six state energy-efficiency policy areas utility...

Realize this vision, plans to construct the Cronkite School's 223,000-square-foot flagship building were kicked into high gear. It was clear that a fast-tracked design build delivery process would be necessary to complete this project in 20 months on a fixed budget of 55 million while also supporting the university's commitment to sustainability. The university's vision statement explicitly mentions the importance of sustainability research and the impact of its social, environmental, and...

RENDERINGS COURTESY OWP P CANNON DESIGN Northern Arizona University consolidates fi ve facilities into one sustainable building A lot can change between project conceptualization and completion. Budgets often tighten, needs can evolve, and new goals may emerge. In the best of circumstances, the project team can embrace the waves of change and use them as a springboard to Innovate. Such was the case at Northern Arizona University (NAU) In Flagstaff, Ariz. The university has seen nearly...

This desert metropolis wants to be the greenest city in America. In a March 2009 State of the City address, Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon announced Green Phoenix, an ambitious initiative whose goal is to make the state capital not only the greenest city in the state, but also the most sustainable metropolis in the country. Arizona State University's Global Institute of Sustainability is entrusted with translating the plan into action. Executive dean Robert Melnick explains the...

Shapes of things to come are here today. And so are the sizes. Here in the form of ceramic tile from Spain which, for centuries, has epitomized the notion of no creative boundaries for architects and designers. And into the 21st century, it offers even more design f I exibility. Inspired expression comes in all ceramic shapes and sizes. Tiny mosaics in any shape imaginable - from square and angular to irregular and round - fi ll the design palette for boundless freedom to create surfaces as...

Panels of PRE-CUT FLEXIBLE FLASHING All main components are factory-assembled Fast, Secure, Uniform Protection for Brick Construction We've factory assembled EVERY modern moisture-control device onto each handy panel of top quality flashing* It slashes the risk of mold or moisture-damage yet actually installs faster (and more reliably) than flashing alone No extra deliveries to wait for No cutting of flashing rolls No lap-joint problems Just take a 5-1 2-foot panel of TOTALFLASH out...

Awareness to Earth's need for continual care. WHO SHAPES THE FUTURE OF GREEN DESIGN What was once a quiet evolution has become a revolutionary force. Your desire for sustainable design has helped redefine the meaning of green. Since we began making nora rubber flooring over 50 years ago, we've evolved with you. 1988 1,000 communities in America initiate curbside recycling. 1998 EPA launches voluntary programs for energy, water, indoor air quality, waste and smart growth. Building Council member...

Arcosanti is a living laboratory for anti-sprawl urban planning. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP HENRY OBASI BILL TIMMERMAN AND ROSS RUECKER Moisture management, acoustics, sustainability, energy efficiency, lifestyle - CertainTeed is the company that brings eco-friendly building system solutions and your green design concepts to life. From foundation to roofline, CertainTeed has produced high-performance, responsible building materials for more than a century.

About 15 miles outside of Dallas, a new office campus minimized site impact as part of the owner's goal to maintain the natural character of the site part ranchland, part open prairie with two ponds and a healthy collection of Post Oak Savanna trees. Its natural beauty and complementary office design helped Westlake Corporate Campus win local and national awards, but an equally important accomplishment is its lower cost for initial siting and ongoing maintenance. Westlake is a 300-acre office...

Tlia mult for producta from wall managed foraete CU-C0C-8073B3 1996 FSC All Accoya wood is produced from well managed, sustainable sources, including FSC, PEFC and other regionally certified woods. most of the students on the 2005 team have graduated, professor Harry Giles has continued research based around the house's systems and the opportunities they present. The house currently is on display and open to the public at U-M's Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, Mich. There are a lot of...

EXTERIOR ROOFING SIDING WINDOWS FENCE RAILING TRIM DECKING FOUNDATIONS PIPE INTERIOR INSULATION GYPSUM CEILINGS Circle no. 78 or http ecostructure.hotims.com A few years ago, an industry friend approached me about contributing a piece to a book of essays on design and sustainability. He tasked me with examining the relationship between competition and sustainability. The question was While collaboration certainly helps foster innovation, could competition be just as beneficial While prepping...

Choose IMPs (Insulated Metal Panels) to achieve high R-values of 14 to 48, exceed energy code requirements, and help create an energy-efficient building that may qualify for energy tax credits. IMPs offer long-term thermal stability, low maintenance and less installation time vs. multi-component assemblies. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors. For more information on IMPs, visit www.insulatedmetalpanels.org

Team California partnered with Teragren to develop a modified bamboo I-beam (right, top and bottom) in 2007. After that competition, the concept was further modified and was used, although not seen, in this year's house (above). use less material without sacrificing the structural integrity of the house. Also, bamboo looks nice, so in 2007 we used the I-beams and left them uncovered, which added to the aesthetic we were going for. Kopf says little structural bamboo was available on the market...

Circle no. 20 or http ecostructure.hotims.com EPIC'S multi-functional roof deck ceiling systems provide a finished, architectural ceiling with an acoustical application on the interior while supporting a vegetated green roof on the exterior. Many other EPIC features also contribute to LEED certification. EPIC's Envista , Archdeck and Toris feature long spans, with Wideck up to 55 feet. These roof and floor deck ceiling systems create an architectural focal point with both beauty and function....

A thin, virtually invisible addition to your existing windows, VISTA Architectural Window Film may significantly increase energy efficiency for years to come at a fraction of window replacement costs. Plus, using VISTA may help you qualify for LEED credits. To pre-qualify your building for energy efficiency and savings with window film, take the One Minute Challenge at oneminutechallenge.com. Circle no. 74 or http ecostructure.hotims.com For more information 800.345.6088 www.vista-films.com....

3 The White House continues to make sustainabiiity a priority. In October, President Barack Obama issued an executive order setting sustainabiiity goais for federal agencies' environmental and economic performance, and energy and water efficiency. The federal government occupies nearly 500,000 buildings, operates more than 600,000 vehicles, and purchases more than 500 billion in goods and services per year. The order, signed Oct. 5, requires federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas...

The first lavatory system to provide soap, water and hand drying all in one space. Everything's within reach for the ultimate in convenience and comfort. It's a safer option too since the water doesn't drip on the floor as you walk to the dryer. As the greenest lav system available today, the Advocate features recycled materials, low power hand dryer, 0.38 gpm faucet, and ndite technology that powers the faucet without electricity or batteries. Its contemporary styling and environmental...

In the past several years, LMOP has seen increasing interest in LFG, particularly for direct use. The interest is fueled by both economic and environmental factors. While recent energy costs have dropped, energy markets can be quite volatile, and industrial operations and governments are realizing significant savings by using LFG. BMW Manufacturing notes that it saves more than 1 million per year at its South Carolina plant alone, where LFG generates electricity and a combined heat power system...

Made in America. 33 KEYSTONE DRIVE LEBANON, PA 17042 (T) 800-537-8737 OR 717-675-2192 (F) 717-675-2199 www.regupol.com The conversion of landfill gas into usable energy has people talking trash Most people don't think of a landfill as much more than a necessary evil at best, a community liability at worst. However, society's current primary method of waste management produces a by-product with a significant energy value landfill gas (LFG). A landfill can provide a...

Not every rigid insulation board is built the same. Differences in the manufacturing processes create dramatically different board structures and performance. Compare the leading options (shown, bottom left) A collection of thermoplastic beads pressed together under heat and pressure. EPS has air spaces between its beads, allowing water and air to penetrate, lowering its R-value. Polyisocyanurate (ISO) (shown, bottom center) A thermoset plastic manufactured in a lamination process using liquid...

Translucent west-facing laboratories in a region of intense sun are a highly unusual choice, but larger design objectives prevailed. Ideally, we wouldn't have the labs facing west, but urban buildings don't turn their back on the street, Kranz explains. We wanted to make it clear from the exterior that this was a laboratory which meant you had to see in. So we designed a self-shading fa ade that delicately balanced urban, solar, and daylighting requirements. To mitigate the thermal gain and...

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) also has benefitted from professional assistance. The team partnered with Homeway Homes, a modular home builder with outposts across Illinois, for a study in mass-marketability. Part of our goal was to build a house that regular people would buy and find marketable, says Patrick Chapman, one of the team's faculty advisers. There is a tendency at Solar Decathlon for architects to push the envelope when it comes to design. We didn't want to...

Two rival universities partner in bioscience research Both on and off the playing field, Arizona State University (ASU), whose main campus is in Tempe, Ariz., and the University of Arizona (UA) in Tucson, Ariz., enjoy a fierce rivalry that typically exists between In-state college Institutions. This competitive relationship, however, recently took a turn when the two universities joined forces and capital funds to build the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative building In downtown Phoenix. As a...

Located on Houston's far west side, a 3,000-acre site known as the Stern Ranch is considered to be the future of the small farming town of Fulshear, Texas. New schools, housing, churches, parks, and other community amenities will allow the city to grow and maintain its economic viability as it moves from a small, rural economy to a mixed, urban community. SWA's concepts have looked at creating a consistent identity for the project. The master plan calls for an internal loop roadway and the...

The state of Arizona requires all public agencies to build to a minimum LEED Silver certification, but with the Health and Learning Center, NAU is aiming to earn LEED Gold. We try to get beyond LEED Silver if we can, Kuhn says. Our university president has signed the Campus Climate Challenge, so we're very active in green building and sustainability efforts. Approaching a project of this magnitude, it was important to take an integrated design approach. We knew a high level of sustainability...

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Completed in fall 2007, the building's energy usage has been half of the utility company's initial estimates. Because this is Phoenix, regulating the sun was the key. Herzog believes that the prevailing method, which is to design heavily insulated walls, doesn't work as well when the sun is at this level of intensity. Thermal mass gets a lot of attention, but here in Arizona, it gets so hot that you retain too much heat for too long. You have to deflect all that solar heat gain, he says. In...

The center began construction in October and is the largest building project ever undertaken by NAU. At its heart, however, the facility truly will be for the students and will provide state-of-the-art services without forgetting the human element. One of the big drivers is to provide physical and visual connectivity throughout the building, inside and out, Boyer says. More than 30 percent of the building's skin will be glazing, providing daylighting and views of Flagstaff's breathtaking...

As a major sponsor of the event each year, BP Solar recognizes that technologies introduced at the Solar Decathlon represent the next generation of green building concepts and green builders. The heart of this event is that in these projects, you have a series of students that are becoming the future architects of this country, says Eric Daniels, vice president of technology and product development for BP Solar. I can't conceive of a better way to bring about renewable energy, efficiency, and...

The esprit de corps established In the design studio extended to the job site where team members collaborated to achieve sustainable goals while efficiently constructing the building. For example, after HDR and Sundt Identified which construction materials could be recycled, Sundt drafted a waste management plan. Inside the building, workers were provided with four 40-cublc-yard plastic wheeled carts on the northwest corner of the project site. Each featured a label metal, cardboard, gypsum...

Acoustical Flooring Underlayments from MP Global are popular with architects and designers of multifamily housing. Our QuietWalk and Insulayment products are frequently specified to reduce noise transmission between floors in apartments and condominiums. Furthermore, these products are made primarily with recycled fibers, and are certified as a contributor to good indoor air quality. In addition to sound deadening, our QuietWarmth panels provide gentle radiant heat to warm the floor and help...

The THERMAX Wall System Is a systematic approach to achieving efficiency at every level simplified design, streamlined construction and optimized energy consumption for a reduced carbon footprint. Dow's three-in-one system with continuous insulation, air barrier and flashing meets all applicable IBC and ASHRAE requirements, and may contribute to significant USGBC LEED Credits. Dow Building Solutions 866-583-BLUE (2583) www.thermaxwallsystem.com.

The economic downturn in the commercial real estate industry has diminished the importance of climate change and alternative energy sources as a factor in real estate investment decisions, according to a survey of U.S. financial leaders conducted by the Urban Land Institute. More than 200 responses were tallied from executives in U.S. investment funds, institutional investors, real estate investment trusts, and banks. Forty percent of respondents indicated a decline in the business significance...

As a replacement for cement in concrete. When, you specify fly ash as replacement for cement in concrete, you help reduce COa emissions from cement production, conserve landfill space, and decrease water usage. You also enhance workability and chemical attack resistance, increase strength and produce more durable concrete. Contact Headwaters Resources for free technical literature and information on how fly ash use benefits the environment and produces better concrete.